Tributes have been paid after former Scotland women’s head coach Philip Doyle passed away aged 61.
Irishman Doyle, who died on Thursday and was known to all in the game as ‘Goose’, took over from Shade Munro as head coach with Scotland in April 2019.
He kicked off his Scotland tenure with a historic first-ever series win in South Africa, two convincing victories over the Springboks coming on that trip.
He followed this with defeats against Wales and Japan respectively at Scotstoun in the November of that year.
Ahead of the 2020 Women’s Six Nations, Doyle coached the team to a 36-12 win against Spain in Almeria in that January.
His first Six Nations with Scotland turned out to be a turbulent one due to the Covid-19 pandemic which caused the final three matches to be rescheduled. In the two games they played under him in the event in February of that year they lost away to Ireland and at home to England. The latter was played behind closed doors at Murrayfield due to Storm Ciara.
Doyle left his post at Scottish Rugby in August 2020 due to being required to shield on medical grounds during the pandemic. His assistant Bryan Easson took over on an interim basis at the time and was then named head coach in late 2020 and held the post until late 2025.
Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm said: “Goose truly was one of rugby’s special characters.
“He brought something totally different to Scotland women and he made such an impact on so many of our careers. I will forever be grateful to him for putting his faith in me as captain for the first time and I look back on our time working together very fondly.
“We were lucky to get to know Goose’s lovely family during his time with us, as they often travelled to support us our thoughts are with them all.”
Doyle first coached the Ireland women’s team in 2003 for three years and he returned as head coach in 2010 and led the team to its first Six Nations title, achieving a Grand Slam and Triple Crown in the process, in 2013.
Doyle also created history when Ireland defeated the New Zealand Black Ferns in the pool stages of the 2014 Rugby World Cup, becoming the first Irish international side to beat a New Zealand national team. They reached the semi-finals that year before finishing in fourth place.
Irish Rugby chief executive Kevin Potts said: “We are deeply shocked and saddened at the tragic loss of Philp Doyle.
“He played a huge role in women’s rugby in Ireland for many years. His passion and success was marked not alone with a Grand Slam in 2013 and the famous World Cup victory over the Black Ferns in 2014, but also in the many players that he helped to develop and encourage, and the voice he gave to Women’s rugby.
“On behalf of the IRFU, I offer our sincere condolences to Philip’s wife Nicola, his children Alix, Mark and Ross, his mother Anne and his extended family at this very sad time.”
Philip Doyle is pictured – thanks to Scottish Rugby
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